Portable x-ray unit



April 10, 1951 c. BOUCHER 2,547,996

PORTABLE X-RAY UNIT Filed June 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cormack E. Bouchen A ril 10, 1951 c. E. BOUCHER 2,5 7,996

. PORTABLE X-RAY UNIT Filed June 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

Cormack E. Bouc/zer BY MMM ii] INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 10, 1951 "UNITED STATES PAT OFFICE PORTABLE X-RAY UNIT Cormack E. Boucher, Seattle, Wash. Application June '9, 1948, Serial No. 32,027 16 Claims, (01. 2'50 9 The present invention relates to portable X-ray units and, more particularly, to X-ray units adaptedfor use in radiographing annular sections of hollow bodies. While not necessarily limited thereto, the X-ray unit is particularly suitable for use in the radiographic inspection of .annular welds of pipelines.

It is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a new .and improved self-contained X-ray unit which is compact, .light in weight, and reliable in'operation. More specifically, it is an object to provide an X-ray unit including .a transformer and tube mounted withina single housing, the unit being of relatively small size so as to permit its movement through .a pipe, and of sturdy construction so as to withstand any ordinary treatment to which it might be subjected in the field.

A further specific object of the invention is to providea new and improved housing structure for portable X-rayunits ofthetype described.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved X-ray tube mounting in a portable unit of the type described.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig.1 is a longitudinal side elevation illustrating the transformer unit .constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transformer unit shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view taken along the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4- 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is aview taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.2; vandFig-(i is a plan view of the transformer incorporated in the X-ray unit.

Referring now more particularly toFig. 1,-t-he X-ray unit of the invention is illustrated .;as being mounted within a hollow, cylindrical, metal body such as a pipe Ill, the X-ray unit in this instance being particularly adapted for radiograpbic zillspection of annular sections of the pipe such as the annular weld H. In the use eftheX-ray unit, a filmmounted within a suitableholder I2 is wrapped around the outside of the pipe ill over the annular weld 1 Land the entire weld is radiographed at a single-exposure.

The X-ray unitis wholly contained wi-thi-n a metal housing which, in this instance, is shown as being of an elongated-cylindrical configuration and consisting of two recessed arts,gl4-and J5, wh chareprovided.withooperating-angular flanges l6 and H, respectively, on their adjacent ends by meansof which the two housing parts may be secured together in a gas tight relation. For reasons as will be explained more fully hereinafter, the X-ray unit is adapted to be supported within the metal body II] in a predetermined aligned relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the metal body ID. This may be accompushed by support n t X-my n t o a carriage or by providing a plurality of supportin wh els up n t e ds o h hou n o by providing a plurality of such supporting wheels upon one end of the housing only, the other end of the unit being supported upon the end of atractor used in con u tio w the X- ay un for moving the unit along the pipe line. As shown in the drawing, the X-ray unit is equipped with a plurality of wheels 18 mounted upon the ends of resilient bracket arms l9, the bracket arms being, secured directly to the outer side wall of the housing portion I 5. The wheel units [8, 19 are readily removable so that they can be replaced by other wheel units to suit the internal diameter of any given pipe. At least three such wheels should be provided in a circumferentially spaced apart relation about the X-ray unit in order that the housing will be accurately positioned in a predetermined aligned relation with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the pipe. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there will be an inherent tendency for the X-ray unit as "well as the propelling tractor to rotate to a greater or lesser degree about the axis of the pipe, and the supporting wheels should be so spaced about the housing that the unit, or at least the X-raytube therein, Will be maintained in the predetermined aligned relation with respect to the pipe axis irrespective of rotational movement of the X-ray unit about the pipe axis. The .opposite ,end of the unit is, in this instance, adapted to be supported upon the conduit tractor used in conjunction therewith for propelling the same throughthepipe line. As shown in the drawings, the :end wall of the unit remote from the supporting wheels [,8 is provided with an outwardly extending cylindrical flange 21 adapted for receiving a ring 22. The ring 22 is provided with a plurality of bracket arms 23 joined together atthecoupling fixture 2d adapted to be received in cooperating coupling element (not shown) provided on the conduit tractor. The coupling fixture 2 4;isalso aligned with the longiitudinalaxisof the X=ray unit so that the unit will be supported byfixturexfifi and wheels I 8 in-coa ial al nment with h cylindrical pipe i R fe r n ow merepart cu arly to the longitudinal, sectional view of Fig. 2, a transformer, indicated generally by the core structure 30, is shown mounted within the housing part l4 while an X-ray tube 3| is shown inclosed within the second housing part l5. As illustrated more clearly in the views of Figures 5 and 6, it will be observed that the transformer core is of rectangular configuration having windings 32 and 33 provided upon its opposite end legs. Shields 34 and 35, of suitable insulating material, are provided between the windings 32 and 33 within the window of the core structure for providing adequate insulation strength between turns of the two windings. The transformer is supported within the housing part M by means of a plurality of suitably arranged brackets 33 and 2'! secured to the inner wall of the housing and to which the core structure is bolted as illustrated in Fig. 5. Power supply connections to the primary of the transformer windings may be effected through the leads 38 connected to the terminals 39 extending through the side wall of the housing and suitably insulated therefrom. The terminal 40 is for a ground connection to the core of the transformer and, in this instance, the midpoint of the transformer secondary is also grounded. One terminal of the high voltage winding consists of a contact button 4| provided on the outer surface of the winding 32 adjacent the end of the X-ray tube 3| and on the axis of the housing. A filament voltage winding 44 is provided about the winding 33 and is connected in series therewith, the leads 43 being brought out to the filament terminals of the X-ray tube by means of the heavily insulated, high voltage cable 45.

Referring now more particularly to the views of Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the mounting arrangement for the X-ray tube 3| will be more fully described. It is pointed out that the X-ray tube 3| is of a type which is capable of emitting X radiation throughout an angle of 360 about the longitudinal axis of the tube, the angle of spread of the adjacent outer receiving the anode stem 6|. Electrical connection is made between the anode stem 6| and the terminal button 4| provided on the outer surface of the transformer winding 32 by means of a contact spring 52 mounted upon the back side of the disc 5|, the contact spring 52 being electrically connected to the radiator 6|]. The free end of the X-ray tube 3} is supported by means of a plurality of bracket arms 65 of insulating material, the ends of the bracket arms 65 being secured to a cap member 65 arranged over the end of the tube 3|, the opposite ends of the bracket arms 65 being secured by means of relatively stiff, tension springs 61 to the outer edge portions of the disc 5|. With the outer end of the X-ray tube 3| thus supported, damage to the tube which might otherwise result from severe jars given to the housing is minimized.

The high voltage cable 45 is brought through the insulating disc 5| by means of an insulating tube secured to the disc 5| by nut 12. The outer end of the tube 1| terminates before it enters the field of X radiations from the tube 3| and the cable conductors are connected to a pair of electrically conductive ribbons l3 insulated from each other and secured together in any suitable manner, the outer ends of the ribbon conductors 13 being connected to the filament terminals 14 of the X-ray tube.

In order that a minimum of impedance will be offered to the radiations emitted by the tube 3|, it is important that at least the annular wall section of the housing portion l5 lying within the field of the radiations around the tube 3| and over the area indicated by the angle 41 be of a material which is relatively permeable to X radiations such as aluminum or magnesium. It is more expedient, however, to make the entire housing part |5 of magnesium. The bracket arms 65 of radiations being indicated in Fig. 2 by the angle '41. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the case of an X-ray tube provided with an anode face sloping at an angle with respect to the perpendicular to the tube axis, the tube must be tilted so that the plane of the anode face coincides with a radial plane of the housing. The X-ray tube as shown in the drawings, however, is provided with an anode face which is perpendicular to the axis of the tube and, accordingly, the tube 3| may be mounted with its longitudinal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the housing.

The supporting means for the X-ray tube 3| comprises a disc 5| of insulating material having a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the housing and which disc is resiliently mounted upon bracket arms 52 secured to the inner surface of the end of the housing part l4. As illustrated more clearly in the enlarged detail view of Fig. 4, each of the resilient mounting means for the disc 5| includes a rubber bushing 53 provided with an annular metal flange 54 for mounting the same within cooperating openings provided in the disc 5|, the rubber bushing 53 being provided with a metal core 55 through i which the bolt 51 is arranged securing the disc onto the end of the bracket arm 52.

A radiator 60 for dissipating the heat from the anode stem of the X-ray tube 3| is centrally mounted upon the disc 5|, the radiator 60 being provided with an axial opening for cooperatively insulating material are purposely made relatively light and the ribbon conductors 13 are also made of magnesium or some other material relatively permeable to X radiations so that no shadows will be created by the conductors 13 and the supporting arms 55 upon the film wrapped about the wall section of the pipe being radiographed. The use of magnesium for the entire housing is also advantageous in that the total weight of the X-ray unit is thereby reduced to a minimum.

While the housing |4, |5 may be filled with an insulating liquid, it is preferred, in order to keep down the weight of the apparatus, to fill the housing with a gaseous insulating medium under pressure. Numerous insulating gases are available 0n the market and which are suitable for use in filling the housing. Gas may be introduced into the housing through the valve fitting 8| mounted in the end wall 82 of the housing part l4 and the gas pressure may be observed by means of the indicator 83 also mounted on the end wall 82. Surrounding the gas fittings 8| and 83 is a cylindrical flange 84 secured to the end wall for cooperatively receiving a closure cap 85, the cap 85 being removably secured onto the flange 84 for protecting the fittings 8| and 83 against injury during handling or usage of the X-ray apparatus. The opposite end wall 88 of the housing may be provided with an eye fitting 89 for facilitating the handling of the unit.

It will be observed that the wheel units are mounted upon the housing outside of the field of radiations of the tube 3|, and preferably relatively closely adjacent the end of the transformer nearest the tube.

Having described the invention in what is considered a preferred embodiment thereof, it is de-- sired that it be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

I claim:

1. A portable X-ray unit comprising a two-part cylindrical housing, annular flanges on the adjacent ends of said housing parts for securing the same together in a coaxial relation, a transformer mounted in a first of said housing parts, a disc of insulating material resiliently mounted on said first part adjacent the open end thereof and having a diameter less than the internal diameter of said first part, an X-ray tube having an anode stem mounted on said disc coaxially with said housing parts, an anode radiator fixedly secured to the center of said disc and adapted for removably receiving the anode stem of said tube, bracket arms of insulating material secured to the outer edge portions of said disc for supporting the free end of said tube, electrical connection conductors between the terminals of said transformer and the tube terminals, said tube being adapted for emitting penetrative radiations throughout an angle of 360, the portions of said second housing part, said bracket arms and conductors within the path of said-radiations being of a material relatively permeable to said X radiations.

2.'A portable X-ray apparatus particularly adapted for use in radiographing annular welds in cylindrical metal bodies, said apparatus comprising an elongated, hermetically sealed, cylindrical housing, means secured relatively to the outside of said housing for engaging the inner wall of a cylindrical body at circumferentially spaced apart points around said housing for supporting said housing substantially coaxially Within said cylindrical body irrespective of rotational movements of said housing about the axes of said housing and said body, a transformer and an X- ray tube mounted within said housing and spaced apart in the axial direction of said housing, said X-ray tube being capable of emitting radiations throughout an angle of 360, insulating means secured to said housing and operatively engaging and supporting each of the opposite ends of said tube Within said housing and in such a position that the field of X-rays emitted by said tube extends at right angles to the axis of said housing throughout an angle of 360 thereabout, at least an annular portion of the housing in the path of said radiations being of a material relatively permeable to X-rays, said transformer being wholly disposed outside of said field of X-rays.

'3. A portable X-ray unit comprising an elongated, hermetically sealed, cylindrical housing, a transformer and an X-ray tube mounted within said housing and spaced apart in the axial direction of said housing, said X-ray tube being capable of emitting radiations throughout an angle of 360, insulating means secured to said housing and operatively engaging and supporting each of the opposite ends of said tube within said housing and in such a position that the field of X- rays emitted by said tube extends at right angles to the axis of said housing throughout an angle of 360 thereabout, at least an annular portion of the housing in the path of said radiations being of a material relatively permeable to X-rays, said transformer being wholly disposed outside of said field of X-rays.

4. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing an annular section of a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit compris- 6 ing a cylindrical housing adapted to be supported within said body and coaxially therewith, a transformer mounted in one end :of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing, a disc of insulating material resiliently mounted in said housing between said transformer and said tube, means securing one end of said tube to the center of said disc with the longitudinal axis of said tube extending coaxially with said housing; bracket arms of insulating material extending from the peripheral edge portions of said disc to the outer free end of said tube, the portion of said housing surrounding said tubebeing of a material relatively permeable to X-rays.

5. A portable X-ray unit comprising an elongated housing, a transformer mounted in one end of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing, a sheet of insulating material extending transversely of said housing between said transformer and said tube, means resiliently supporting said sheet upon said housing, means'mounting one end of said tube on said sheet, and a plurality of tension supporting members extending from the outer edge portions of said sheet to the free end of said tube, the end portion of said housing surrounding said tube being of a material relatively permeable to X- rays.

6. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing an annular section of a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit comprising a cylindrical housing adapted to be supported Within said body and coaxially therewith, a transformer mounted in one end of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing and adapted for emitting X-rays throughout a 360 angle radially of said housing, an insulating member extending transversely of said housing between said transformer and said tube, said transformer being disposed wholly outside of the radial field of X-rays from said tube, one end of said tube being mounted on said memher with the longitudinal axis of said tube extending coaxially with said housing, and insulating supporting means extending between said housing and the opposite end of said tube, at least an annular portion of said housing surrounding said tube being of a material relatively permeable to X-raYs. a

7. A portable X-ray unit comprising an elongated housing, a transformer unit mounted in said housing, an X-ray tube capable of emitting X-rays throughout an angle of 360 about said housing and mounted in a longitudinally spaced apart relation therewithin with respect to said transformer unit whereby said transformer unit is outside of the field of radiations from said tube, resilient means secured to said housing and resiliently supporting said tube therewithin, and at least a portion of said housing surrounding said tube throughout 369 and within the field of radiations thereof being of a material relatively permeable to X-radiations.

8. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing an annular section of a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit comprising a cylindrical housing adapted to be supported within said body and coaxially therewith, a transformer mounted in one end of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing, said tube being capable of emitting radiations throughout an angle of 360 in the direction radially of said housing, at least an annular portion of said housing surrounding said tube being relatively permeable to X radiations, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart roller means secured relatively to said housing for supporting said housing in coaxial alignment with said metal body irrespective of rotational movements of said housing about the body axis said transformer and said roller means being wholly disposed outside of the field of radiations of said tube.

9. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing an annular section of a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit comprising an elongated housing, a transformer mounted in one end of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing, said tube being capable of emitting radiations in a plane radially of the longitudinal axis of said housing throughout an angle of 360 thereabout, at least an annular portion of said housing surrounding said tube being relatively permeable to X radiations, means for supporting the transformer end of said housing upon a conduit tractor and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart roller supporting means secured to said housing adjacent the opposite end of said transformer, said transformer and said roller means being disposed in the direction longitudinally of said housing outside of the radial field of radiations.

10. A portable X-ray unit comprising a cylindrical housing, said housing including two complementary cylindrical parts detachably secured together end to end in a coaxial hermetically sealed relation, a transformer unit fixedly mounted in one of said housing parts, an X-ray tube capable of emitting X-rays throughout an angle of 360 mounted in the second of said housing parts, said transformer being mounted outside the field of radiations from said tube, resilient means secured to one of said housing parts and resiliently supporting said tube within said second housing part for radiating X-rays throughout an angle of 360 about the axis of said housing, at least an annular portion of said second housing part within the fieldv of said X-ray emission from said tube being of a material readily permeable to X-radiations.

11. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing annular sections of hollow, cylindrical metal bodies, said unit comprising an elongated cylindrical housing adapted to be supported within such bodies and coaxially therewith, a transformer unit mounted within said housing, an X-ray tube mounted within said housing for emitting X-rays radially of said cylindrical housing throughout an angle of 360, support means for said tube extending transversely of said housing between said transformer unit and said tube, said supporting means including means for insulating said tube from said housing, said supporting means also including resilient mounting means for resiliently supporting said tube with respect to said housing, said transformer unit being disposed wholly outside of the radial field of said X-rays, at least the housing portion surrounding said tube and within the radial field of said X-rays being of a material relatively permeable to X-rays.

12. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing annular wall sections of a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit comprising an elongated housing adapted to be supported within said body, a transformer unit and an X-ray tube mounted in an axially spaced apart relation within said housing, supporting 8. means for said tube extending transversely of said housing, said supporting means including means for insulating said tube from said housing, said supporting means also including resilient mounting means for resiliently supporting said tube with respect to said housing, said X- ray tube being adapted for emitting radiations in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said housing throughout an angle of 360, at least the portion of said housing within the field of radiations of said tube adjacent said plane being of a material relatively permeable to X-rays, said transformer being disposed in the direction longitudinally of said housing wholly to one side of said plane of radiations, said housing comprising a pair of complementary separable parts adapted to be hermetically sealed together.

13. A portable X-ray unit comprising an elongated housing including two recessed members, cooperating annular flanges on the adjacent open ends of said members permitting said members to be secured together in a complementary endto-end, hermetically sealed relation, a transformer mounted within one of said housing members, an X-ray tube, means mounting said X-ray tube adjacent the end of said one housing member in an outwardly projecting relation with respect to the open end of said one housing member, said X-ray tube being enclosed by the second of said housing members, said tube being adapted for emitting radiations throughout a radial angle of 360 about the longitudinal axis of said housing, at least the annular portion of said second housing member within the radial field of said radiations from said tube being of a material relatively permeable to said radiations, electrical conductors extending between said transformer and the terminals of said tube, at least those portions of said conductors passing through the field of said radiations being of a nature relatively permeable to said radiations.

14. A portable X-ray unit particularly adapted for use in radiographing an annular section in a hollow, cylindrical metal body, said unit comprising an elongated housing adapted to be supported within said body in substantial predetermined coaxial alignment with said body, a transformer mounted in one end of said housing, an X-ray tube mounted in the other end of said housing, said tube being adapted for emitting radiations in the direction at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing and throughout an angle of 360 thereabout, at least the annular portion of said housing surrounding said tube and within the field of said radiations being permeable to X-radiations, carrying means adapted to engage with the inner walls of said hollow metal body angularly distributed around said housing for supporting said housing within said body whereby said tube is maintained in substantial predetermined position with respect to the axis of said body irrespective of angular rotational movements of said housing about the body axis.

15. A portable X-ray unit including a housing, an X-ray tube including an anode stem enclosed within said housing, said tube being capable of emitting X-rays throughout an angle of 360, a support of insulating material, an anode radiator secured to said support and adapted for receiving said anode stem, bracket means secured to said support for engaging and supporting the end of said tube opposite said anode stem, resilient means securing said support to said housing, said bracket means and at least the portion of said REFERENCES CITED housing surrounding said tube and Within the The f 1 field of said X-ray emission being of a material file of 5 ga hfi are of record m the readily permeable to X-rays.

16. A portable X-i'ay unit including a hous- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ing, an X-ray tube enclosed Within said housing, Number N 7 Date said tube being capable of emitting X-rays 1,979,997 Pieper 1934 throughout an angle of 360", means for support- 1,987,790 Mutscheller Jan. 15, 1935 ing said X-ray tube within said housing, said sup- 2,036,096 Pieper 31 93 porting means including insulating means 0p- 10 2,086,045 Pieper mm, 6, 1937 eratively engaging and supporting each of the 2,3%7,612 Westendorp Jan. 5, 1943 opposite ends of said tube, said supporting means 2,360,035 B ehe 0 g 10 9 including resilient mounting means whereby said tube is resiliently supported relative to said hous- FOREIGN PATENTS ing, at least an annular portion of said housing 15 Number Country Date surrounding said tube throughout 360 and with- 2- Germany J 11116 in the field of X-ray emission from said tube being of a material relatively permeable to X rays. CORMACK E. BOUCI-IER. 20 

